Multnomah County, including Portland and Gresham, has seen a decrease in gun violence incidents, a problem that increased during the pandemic. This was discussed at the January 22, 2024 meeting of the Local Public Safety Coordinating Council (LPSCC). The drop in gun violence from 2022 to 2023 is due to over three years of coordinated investments and collaboration. However, more work is needed to address gun and community violence, particularly in areas with high violence levels.
Jessica Vega Pederson, Multnomah County Chair, expressed concern about maintaining effective programs as federal funding for violence prevention initiatives begins to decrease. She pointed out that past anti-violence programs were often cut once they showed results, leaving communities without necessary support. Vega Pederson also mentioned ongoing racial disparities in violence victims.
In 2021 and 2022, the county and the cities of Portland and Gresham experienced high gun violence rates, worsened by the pandemic, according to LPSCC Strategic Initiatives Manager Raffaele Timarchi. In response, all three jurisdictions used every available resource, including state and federal American Rescue Plan dollars and General Fund supplemental budgets, to fight gun violence.